Lateral hot air brooder



' g- 1956 c. w. ZIMMERMAN 2,759,451

LATERAL HOT AIR BROODER Filed Oct. 19, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O ClarenceW Zimmerman [NV EN TOR.

Y WWW g- 21, 1956 c. w. ZIMMERMAN 2,759,451

LATERAL HOT AIR BROODER Filed Oct. 19. 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

Clarence W Zimmerman I N V EN TOR.

my. 25m

United States Patent 9 LATERAL HOT AIR BROODER Clarence W. Zimmerman,Fort Lnpton, Colo.

Application October 19, 1953, Serial No. 386,733

6 Claims. (Cl. 119-34) This invention relates to a brooder andparticularly to a brooder having a hover chamber and a feeding platformconnected thereto.

In the brooding of chicks it is essential to provide a warm space orhover in which the chicks may be maintained at a comfortable temperaturefor sleeping or for other purposes. Also, it is desirable to provide aspace accessible to the hover in which feed may be spread for thechickens to eat and in which the chicks may move about for exercise andexposure to the ultra-violet rays of sunlight so that the chicks mayabsorb the ultra-violet and receive the beneficial effects thereof.

In the operation of brooders it is essential that the brooder itself bereadily accessible for cleaning and disinfecting so that the same may bekept in a sanitary and healthful condition.

In a construction according to the invention the brooder is provided asan enclosure having an adjustable floor therein and a heater chambermounted below the floor with means mounted below the heater chamber forsupplying heat thereto and a removable cover on the enclosure with aheat or hot air distributor mounted thereon and in communication withthe heater chamber so that the heat may be evenly distributed throughthe enclosure. The floor is made adjustable with respect to the top sothat the space to be heated will be proportional to the size of thechicks to be warmed.

The device is further constructed with a cold air or fresh air inlet tothe heater chamber and a thermostatic device responsive to thetemperature in the brooder so that cold air or fresh air will beadmitted into the heater chamber to maintain the temperature in thebrooder at the desired temperature and a gate is mounted in the passageand responsive to the thermostat for controlling this tempearture as maybe desired. A second enclosure or attic like device is placed over thehover and the top is provided with suitable apertures so that the hotair from the hover will move upwardly into the second enclosure andthermostatic device is provided therein so that in response to overtemperature therein the hot and stale air in the brooder may be readilyexhausted through a suitable duct.

A feeding platform is provided adjacent to the hover proper andpreferably at the lowest level to which the floor in the hover may beadjusted. The feeding platform itself is provided into a plurality ofsections and curtain like flaps are provided thereon to prevent readycirculation of air therethrough and to restrain the movement of chicksso that they may slowly move about the platform. The platform itself isconnected to the hover by means of an inclined ramp and a swinging dooris provided on the hover and the ramp may be removed so that theswinging door may tightly close the hover not only to prevent 1ngressand egress of the chicks therein but to control the air flow therein.

It is accordingly an object of an improved brooder.

the invention to provide "ice,

It is a further object of the invention to provide a brooder which maybe readily dismantled for cleaning.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved heatingsystem for a brooder.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will be apparent from the following detailed description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the brooder according to theinvention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation through the brooder takensubstantially on the plane indicated by the section line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view on a reduced scale through thebrooder taken substantially on the plane indicated by the section line33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the brooder;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation takensubstantialy on the plane indicated by the section line 5-5 of Figure 3;and

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the fresh air andtemperature control.

In the exemplary embodiment according to the invention the hovercomprises an enclosure 10 having a back wall 12 and side walls 14 and 16with a front wall 18 which is substantially open to be closed by asuitable door 20 which is hinged adjacent the top of the enclosure 10and swings into closing position with the front side of the enclosure.The enclosure 10 is provided with a bottom member 22 which is rigidlyfixed thereto and has an appreciable aperture 24 therein for admittingheat therethrough for a purpose presently to be described. The floor 22extends forward to provide an extended platform 26 and the side walls 14and 16 are extended to provide side walls 28 and 36 which provide acover runway having a top member 32 through which the chicks may pass inand out of the hover when the swinging door 20 is raised. A centralfeeding platform 34 is provided in front of the egress passageway andsupplementary feeding platforms 36 and 38 are provided on each side ofthe central platform 34. The platform 34 being separated from theplatforms 36 and 38 by means of partition walls 40 and 42.

The feeding platforms 34, 36 and 38 are provided with a suitable floormember 44 and the floor members 22 and 44 are supported on suitablesupports such as posts 46. Obviously, the platforms 22 and 44 could bemounted on any suitable support other than the posts 46.

The feeding platforms 34, 36 and 38 are enclosed by means of suitableback walls 48 and 50, end walls 52 and 54 and a front wall 56 having asuitable door 58 therein so that the chicks may be removed from thedevice when desired. The partitions 4th and 42 are provided withsuitable apertures 58 therein and closure curtains 60 are fastenedthereover so that the air will not be dusty or circulate too rapidlytherein and so that the chicks may be somewhat restricted in movingabout the feeding platforms.

A sliding roof 62 is provided over the feeding platforms 34, 36, 38 andis suitably slidably imposed on the walls 48, 50, 56 and is providedwith hinge sections 64 and 66 hinged at 64, 66 (see Figure 5) which maybe raised up inwardly to admit feed or other material thereinto or allowthe operator to have egress to the device. The entire roof 62 preferablybeing slidably positioned with relation to the feeding platforms so thatany portion of the platforms or all of the platforms may be uncovered asdesired. Window like members 68 may be provided in the sections 64, 66so that the ultra-violet radiation of the sun may readily passtherethrough and into the feed- 3 ing platform so that the chicks may beeradicated and made healthful thereby.

A depending heater enclosure 70 is secured to the bottom of the platformor bottom "22 below the aperture 24 and a suitable heating device hereinshown as an oil burner device 72 is mounted therein and a plurality ofapertures 74 are providedin the member 70 so that air may be admittedfor the support of combustion in the oil burner 72. Products ofcombustion may be discharged in any suitable manner pre'ferably, notshown. A bottom member 80 is mounted in the enclosure 10 and is spacedabove the bottom of the enclosure 22 by means of suitable shims 82 sothat the bottom member 80 may be positioned at any desired height abovethe bottom 22. In order to permit the chicks to move from the bottommember 80 into the bottom 26 a ramp'84 is provided in the passageway oregress way so that the chicks may walk up and down and for conveniencecleats 86 are provided on the ramp 84 so that the chicks may easilyclimb or descend on the ramp 84. Obviously, theramp 84 must be removedbefore the swinging door 29 will move into proper closing position withthe front wall 18.

A removable top 88 is mounted on the enclosure 10 and substantiallyretains the heat in the enclosure so that a suitable hover is providedand the hover being of adjustable height to care for the various sizesof chicks which may be cared for therein. 7

The heating element for the hover comprises a heating chamber 90 rigidlysecured to the bottom of the bottom member 88 and having a heat outletconduit 92 extending upwardly through an aperture 94 in the bottommember 80. A return duct 96 extends through the bottom member 80 andextends downwardly into the heating chamber 90 and a suitable guard suchas the circular fence 98 is mounted around the aperture 96 to preventthe chicks from falling into or stopping up the return passage 96. Acold air duct 100 is provided in the heating chamber 90 and is connectedto an outer aperture 1594 which is enclosed in a suitable shield member106. A valve gate 108 is mounted in a duct 100 and a thermostat 11 ismounted in the hover chamber and is connected to the gate 1% by means ofa protecting rod 112 so that expansion of the bellows type thermostat114 will actuate the rod to openand close the valve gate 198.

The heat distributing device includes a'cruciform duct device 116rigidly mounted on the top fit? by means of brackets 118 and is providedwith a downwardly depending duct 12b for sliding engagement with theduct 92 of the heater chamber 95). Cruciform duct device 116 is providedwith terminal apertures 122 for discharging hot air therefrom.

The thermostatic device 119 is preferably mounted on a substantiallycylindrical enclosure 128 which contains a preferably triangularmounting 13E) in which the frame 114} is mounted and in which 'theexpansible bellows 114 may be adjustably mounted by 'means of theadjusting screw*ll32. Preferably the fence 98 is made as a portion ofthe container 128 so that the minimum of space is required for thetemperature controller and the air excluder.

A second enclosure or attic member 'l40is removably received over thefirst enclosure and the top member 38 is provided with a plurality ofapertures 1'42 and 144 so that stale hot air from the hover hanger maymove upwardly into the secondenclosure 140. Enclosure 1'40 is providedwith an outlet duct 144 which is controlled by means ofa gate valve 146.Thermostatic frame 148 is mounted on the top 150 of the upper enclosureMB and a bellows type thermostat 152 is mounted therein by means of anadjusting screw 154 and a push rod 156 extends into controllingcontactwith the gate 146.

In 'the operation of the device according to the "invention the bottom"member '80 is adjusted to any desired height to"properlyaccommodatedhechicks to be contained or cared for in the hover and a suitable heatwill be supplied by the burner 72 to heat the heating chamber 90 so thathot air will move upwardly through the ducts 92 and 120 and bedistributed by the distributor 116. The air will return through thereturn duct 96 because of suction created at the duct by the heated airrising in the ducts '92, 120 and again be heated so that the device willoperate until the hover chamber has reached the desired temperatureafter which time the bellows 114 will operate to admit makeup or coolair by means 'of the gate 108 so that the temperature in the hover willbe constantly controlled by theaddition of air at thepropertemperatureas controlled by the thermostat 110. Stale hotair will go upwardlythrough the apertures 142 and 144 and affect the thermostat 152 whichwill "open the gate valve 146 to admit egress of the stale hot air sothat constant supply of fresh warm air will move through the hover andthe stale air will constantly be discharged through the duct 144.

When it is desired to feed the chicks the ramp'84 will be placed inposition and the door 20 will be raised to open position so thatthechicks will have egress through the passageway into the first feedingplatform 34 and if desired may pass through the apertures 58 under thecurtain like drops into either of the feeding platforms 36 or'38 whereobviously the curtains may be fixed in position'so that the chicks maynot pass therethrough.

The operator may readily remove the top of either the feeder or thebrooder chamber so that the device may be readily cleaned and the top 88or the floor member maybe readily removed therefrom for proper cleaning.It will be obvious that the distributor 116 being fixed to the top 88maybe readily removed therewith without disturbing th esame. Further thethermostatic device being fixed onthe bottom member 80 may be readilyremoved therewith without disturbing the operation of the valve 108.

Likewise the attic member may be readily removed without disturbing thethermostat or thegate 146. 7

It will thus be apparent that the present invention-has provided animproved brooder in which all portionsmay be readily gotten to cleanor'disinfect the same and in which the chicks may have ready access tovarious portions of the device or may be imposed for suitable warming ifdesired. Further, the floor member may be readily adjustable to theheight of the poultry to be cared for therein and obviously if thepoultry is of sufficient size the floor-member 80 may be rested directlyon the bottom =22 of the enclosure.

While for purposes of exemplification a particular embodiment of theinvention has been shown, and des'cribed according to the best presentunderstanding thereof, it will be apparent-to those skilled in the artthat many changes and modifications may be made in the construction andarrangement thereof without departing fromthe true spirit-andpurpose ofthe invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, aremovable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through thetop of said enclosure, a

beating chamber fixed under said bottom membe rneans mounted onsaidenclosure for'applying heat'to said heating chamber when-said bottommember is in place in said enclosure, a heat outlet duct communicated to'said'heating chamber and extending upwardly through said bot- 'mer'nber removable through thetop of said enclosure, a

heatingchamberfix'ed under said bottom member, means mounted on saidenclosure for applying heat to said heating chamber when said bottommember is in. place in said enclosure, a heat outletductcoirimfini'cated to said heating chamber and extending upwardly through said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member andextending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positionedaround said return passage, an air inlet duct communicating with saidheating chamber, a control valve in said duct, and means responsive tothe temperature between said bottom member and said top for operatingsaid valve.

3. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, aremovable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through thetop of said enclosure, a heating chamber fixed under said bottom member,means mounted on said enclosure for applying heat to said heatingchamber when said bottom member is in place in said enclosure, a heatoutlet duct communicated to said heating chamber and extending upwardlythrough said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member andextending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positionedaround said return passage, a heat distributor mounted on said top, adepending duct on said distributor adapted to communicate with said heatoutlet duct.

4. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, aremovable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through thetop of said enclosure, a heating chamber fixed under said bottom member,means mounted on said enclosure for applying heat to said heatingchamber when said bottom member is in place in said enclosure, a heatoutlet duct communicated to said heating chamber and extending upwardlythrough said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member andextending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positionedaround said return passage, a heat distributor mounted on said top, adepending duct on said distributor adapted to communicate with said heatoutlet duct, said bottom member being adjustable with respect to thetop.

5. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, aremovable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through thetop of said enclosure, a heating chamber fixed under said bottom member,means mounted on said enclosure for applying heat to said heatingchamber when said bottom member is in place in said enclosure, a heatoutlet duct communicated to said heating chamber and extending upwardlythrough said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member andextending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positionedaround said return passage, supporting shims selectively insertablebetween said bottom member and said enclosure to selectively positionsaid bottom member in said enclosure.

6. A brooder comprising a substantially rectangular enclosure, aremovable top on said enclosure, a bottom member removable through thetop of said enclosure, a heating chamber fixed under said bottom member,means mounted on said enclosure for applying heat to said heatingchamber when said bottom member is in place in said enclosure, a heatoutlet duct communicated to said heating chamber and extending upwardlythrough said bottom member, a return passage in said bottom member andextending downwardly into said heating chamber, a guard positionedaround said return passage, an air inlet duct communicating with saidheating chamher, a control valve in said duct, and means responsive tothe temperature between said bottom member and said top for operatingsaid valve, a second enclosure removably positioned on said firstmentioned enclosure, said top having apertures communicating said firstand second enclosures, an air outlet duct in said second enclosure, 21control valve in said air outlet duct and means responsive to thetemperature in said second enclosure for operating said valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS669,856 Randolph Mar. 12, 1901 752,542 Fuston Feb. 16, 1904 846,865Rogers Mar. 12, 1907 1,165,509 Irwin Dec. 28, 1915 1,303,804 Kohl May13, 1919 1,671,039 Mead May 22, 1928 1,676,583 Straw July 10, 19281,891,838 Portela Dec. 20, 1932 2,593,029 Holdredge Apr. 15, 1952FOREIGN PATENTS 382,777 Great Britain Nov. 3, 1932

